Justin Pennino

·​ Curriculum Vitae ​· Justin Pennino -- Leadership ● President of Community College Honor Society, ​Phi Theta Kappa Service Length: 1 academic year o Presided and directed over 100 student members o Presided over two inductions and delivered my portion of the presidential speech, ▪ Audience count: +300 o Formulated weekly meetings ▪ Created a meeting agenda for each meeting ▪ Discussed club business ▪ Created/delivered fun, club-connecting icebreakers ▪ Assigned leadership roles to members expressing interest and showed them how to perform to the highest position at their role ▪ Attended weekly Student Government meetings as club representative ● Collaborated/connected with other clubs ● Obtained funding when needed ● Voted on many campus-related subjects ▪ Set up occasional roadside cleanup dates (cleaning the present trash along the road owned by Phi Theta Kappa) ▪ Managed Phi Theta Kappa’s school event website (This website would be used to display to all students that our club would be hosting an event, where and when, and a description of the event) ● Created online events ● Checked members into the events ● Assigned authority to other members in officer positions ● Showed officers how to utilize the website ▪ Recruited ​active​ members! ● When recruiting, asked almost every student crossing my path to join the club [100+ net] ● And watched some of these active members become the upcoming leaders in the club!!! ▪ Built the club up from a non-active status Phi Theta Kappa literally had no members when I joined. I was the only member, along with a friend who has club experience and was part of the club before. This friend showed me all the essentials to presiding over a club and with my compassion I continued to build this club up, even though I had zero prior experiences with clubs, let alone presiding over one. My whole goal was to make this club as fun as possible for students, like a get-away, as to pull them in and encourage them to stay as members. For a select few, my goal worked and they continued on to grow Phi Theta Kappa after I left the school (and consequently the club). ● Student Leadership Retreat, Pasco-Hernando State College, 2017 -: At this time, I was just getting into college and this would be my very first event o Connected with fellow students o Attended workshops teaching us about study abroad options, financial management, and encouragement speeches o Networked with high-up staff within the college o Participated in icebreakers designed to “break the ice” and encourage introverted individuals to break out of their shell – these ice breakers helped me immensely to become more involved with the college and develop my leadership skills o Participated in group exercises designed to increase teamwork abilities 2018: Active helper role (at this point, I’ve become increasingly involved with campus activities) o Part of the Welcome and Engagement (WE) Team ▪ A group of students who have the main goal of welcoming students to the event, making students feel comfortable, and being a friend the students can talk to while covering roles essential to the progression of the Student Leadership Retreat itinerary ▪ Greeted students, connected with students, and ensured the highest quality experience for each student ▪ Collaborated with other WE team members and staff to progress the event, despite any difficulties that may have occurred ● Skills USA, 2018 – Entrepreneurship Division o Collaborated in a group of 4 about the development of a new product to eliminate a problem common in work environments o I was designated as the Chief Marketing Officer and would focus on the market competition for our product as well as possible conventions we could attend and other ways of increasing the knowledge of our product o Discussed issues related to engineering the product, legalities, and financial situations o Made our way to Nationals!!!! o Became more business-minded and increased teamwork and leadership abilities ● MASCOTING!!! o Pasco-Hernando State College [PHSC] ▪ Boomer the Bobcat ● Boomer the Bobcat just became the new mascot during my performance thereby allowing me to effectively cultivate the personality of Boomer the Bobcat (I was the first to get Boomer out to the students and make Boomer known)! The Bobcat is one of my legacies I left at Pasco-Hernando State College. The marketing manager told me that what I have done as the mascot will be what they base every other performer as Boomer after me off of – from the cute and cuddly Bobcat who loves to give students, staff, and faculty hugs and high-fives, to o chasing bipedal pigs to running after the campus squirrels (and consequently getting chased!). ▪ Aug. 2018 – May 2019 ▪ Performed at over 30 events ▪ Interacted with students, faculty, and staff non-verbally ▪ Collaborated with marketing to market PHSC through its mascot University of South Florida ▪ Rocky the Bull ▪ Introduced to mass media marketing with Rocky, including collaborating with news companies, other mascots from various companies, and effective ways to keep the school spirit up! ▪ Summer 2019 – Fall 2019 Work Experience ● Tutor – Pasco-Hernando State College Aug. 2018 – May 2019 Total Estimated Hours: ​340 [approx. 12 hrs per week for 7 months] o Devised unique lessons to fit individual needs in skill building and full instruction on each subject tutored o Provided one-on-one group tutoring instruction to over 50 students o Coached students through challenging material with positive reinforcement and encouragement ● Peer Mentor – Pasco-Hernando State College Aug. 2018 – May 2019 Total Estimated Hours: ​200 [approx. 7 hrs per week for 7 months] o Interacted professionally with students, staff, and faculty which helped develop articulate communication and active listening skills o Provided students with college-provided resources to stimulate academic success and retention o Set up conferences and other college events o Executed calling campaigns, Documented student responses ● Freelance Writer Completed Papers: 7 Total Pages: 24.5 o Set up freelancing account o Landed bids with proposals to gain clients o Communicated efficiently with clients o Designed business records; documented necessary information o Completed paper assignments Lab Experience ● Home Experimentation o Botanical Secondary Metabolite Distillations/Extract Preparations * Never had proper organic solvents to perform a full chemical isolation Distillations ● Gathered known botanical species, utilized water as solvent of choice, and distilled volatile secondary metabolites (commonly known as essential oils) into a receiving flask where different polarity and liquid densities allowed for easy separation and isolation of desired volatile secondary metabolites ● Utilized both steam and hydro distillation ● Notable species distilled: ​Citrus reticulata, ​(likely)​ Piloblephis rigida, Bidens alba, Cinnamomum camphora, Schinus terebinthifolius, [c​ ommon herbs: ​Cinnamomum loureiroi, Rosmarinus officinalis, Ocimum basilicum] ▪ Extractions Solvent utilized in most extractions: Acetone ● Gathered known botanical species, utilized acetone as solvent of choice, dried up and grinded botanical specimen to the finest powder a fruit blender could take obtain, mixed together acetone and botanical products in an enclosed container, stored solution in a dry, cool, dark room for about a week ensuring to shake the solution at least twice a day, filtered solution after a week has gone by, evaporated solution outside and filtered/changed containers as volume continued to decrease and would continue this process until it seemed volume ceased to decrease, then obtained the extract – often extremely viscous (high intermolecular forces) ● Notable extracts obtained from species: ​Bidens alba, Prunus serotina, Capsicum sp., Piper nigrum o Isolation of piperine through utilization of isopropyl alcohol and ground ​Piper nigrum o Identifications of local botanicals through observations, utilizations of local plant databases, and web imagery confirmation ▪ Unique identified local botanicals: ● Ricinus communis, Abrus precatorius, Passiflora incarnata, Rubus sp., Sambucus canadensis, Pinus sp., Drosera sp., Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer rubrum, Cnidoscolus stimulosus o Basic Inorganic chemistry experimentation ▪ Observation of single/double displacement reactions ▪ Preparing reagents ▪ Preparing molar solutions ▪ Mixing chemicals in specific ratios to make substances ● Class-Relative Lab work o Biology 1 ▪ Identifying reducing sugar (Benedict’s reagent) ▪ Identifying protein presence (Biuret reagent) ▪ Identifying starch presence (Iodine) o Biology 2 o Chemistry 1 o Chemistry 2 o Physics 1 ▪ Measuring gravitational acceleration ● ● Understanding presence of systemic/random error in data Lab observations o STEM Academy 2019 ▪ Inorganic Chemistry Wet Lab ▪ Computational Science Lab ▪ Geological Lab ▪ Marine Sciences Lab ● Looking at fluid dynamics in relation to aquatic species’ movement ▪ Applied Physiology Lab ● Observed the effect of electrical currents upon nervous tissue [Ulnar n.] ▪ Applied Pipetting Lab ● Learned how to properly utilize adjustable volume pipettes from ranges of 2-20 microliters, 20-200 microliters, and- microliters Other Experience ● ● ● Micro Computer Applications Class o Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access Proficiency Gardening Knowledge o Expert at germination, transplantation, and harvesting o Knowledgeable about topics relative to gardening: ▪ Aquaponics ▪ Hydroponics ▪ Composting ▪ Pruning Clearing acreage o Helped friend remove vines and small shrub from land ▪ He intends to place a house on the land Volunteering ● West Pasco Habitat for Humanity Community Garden- o Over 100+ hours served in the garden o Obtained the name “compost king” for my contribution to their soil used o Basic garden tasks: ▪ Pulling weeds ▪ Mowing the property where applicable ▪ Taking down trees and clearing the property ▪ Planting seeds ▪ Clearing Land ▪ Transplanting seedlings ▪ Harvesting mature plants ▪ Taking care of the chicken pen when needed ▪ Watering plants when needed ▪ Helping other volunteers complete their tasks ▪ ▪ ▪ Learning how to repair damaged pipes Trimming plants Communicating with Habitat customers and, if unable to assist, directing them to an individual who could help with their needs Accomplishments ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Bright Futures Academic Scholar Certificate of Appreciation o Pasco-Hernando State College District Board of Trustees ▪ 11/19/2019 ▪ Recognized at District Board Meeting ● Did not Attend o Mandatory Dean Student Leadership Society Meeting that Day Collegiate High School Student STEM Academy Scholar Florida College Student Activities Association Certificate of Merit o- FCSAA All-Academic Team in Student Government Achieved 5-Star Club Status for my Honor Society (Phi Theta Kappa) with the help of others High School Honor Roll Certificate o Weighted, Cumulative G.P.A at or greater than 4.0 Bear Grylls Award o 2017 Student Leadership Retreat ▪ “Life is an adventure, live it!” – Bear Grylls Welcome and Engagement Team o 2018 Student Leadership Retreat ▪ Only a select few of students make it onto the team ● Certificate of Appreciation o West Pasco Habitat for Humanity Programs ● STEM Academy o Introduced STEM opportunities at USF and attempted to eliminate misconceptions about professions in the STEM field ▪ Speeches from Professionals within the STEM field ▪ Connecting with students within the STEM field ▪ Meeting mentors who will vouch for me in my future endeavors ▪ Introduction to research at USF ● Meeting and Speaking to researchers ● Observing research labs ● ▪ Lab exercises meant to prepare STEM Academy Scholars for their labs they will encounter as the semesters progress ● How to get involved with research! Small group sessions with professionals within the STEM field/USF STEM clubs/STEM researchers ● NETWORKING Education ● River Ridge High School 11646 Town Center Rd, New Port Richey, FL 34654 o Fall 2015 – Spring 2017 (Tested out of High School in 10​th​ grade to then pursue my A.A. degree upon high school graduation [during 11​th​/12​th​ grade years]) ● Pasco-Hernando State College 10230 Ridge Rd, New Port Richey, FL 34654 o Fall 2017 - Spring 2019 ▪ Associates of Arts Degree ● General Studies ● University of South Florida 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620 o Fall 2019 – Present ▪ Pursuing Bachelor of Science in Chemistry